By Brave Dickson
Rivers State Police Command has warned community leaders in the state not to get involved in crime in order for them not to have chaotic communities.
An Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Ewah Bassey who said this at a gathering in Port Harcourt cautioned community leaders not to condone criminal behaviours in their domains but should rather take tough stance against crime and criminality so as to deter those planning to indulge in vices.
The police chief said: “you must not involve yourselves as community leaders in criminality neither should you condone it. You must reject criminal behaviours and take prompt action against crime. Doing so will help deter those that are planning to indulge in criminal activities.
“As community leaders, you must support security agencies especially the police in fighting crime. This can be done through the supply of accurate, reliable and actionable intelligence.
“You should also desist from giving information that will wound or injure one’s integrity simply because you don’t like the person’s face in your communities or they are allegedly perceived as trouble makers.
“You must support the creation of local security outfits such as vigilante group that can help minimize crime especially in communities that do not have police stations. The vigilante group must be regulated by relevant laws and the police to avoid being used for purely vendetta purpose.
“As community leaders, you must constantly interface with law enforcement agencies in order to know the security policies of government. This will help you get quick security assistance from law enforcement operatives when the need arises.”
ACP Bassey also urged community leaders to be loving, patient and be good listeners to their subjects, adding that such qualities would go a long way in fostering unity and peaceful coexistence in their respective domains.
According to him: “No leader can successfully lead in isolation of his subjects. You must love your subjects in order to get their trust, cooperation and solidarity. A leader that does these will have an easy going regime while leaders that neglect these qualities will experience difficulties.
“You must continuously enlighten your followers about your vision for your people and community as well as government policies and things that will bring collective good for your community members.
“You must have fear for God and respect everyone around you. Be courageous in decision making and learn to be firm and fair to all, irrespective of who is involved, ” among others.
